PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Kirill Chernicin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kantemir Gaunov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kantemir Gaunov struggled to make weight for this fight. He only made it down to 146.5lbs at the first attempt and had to take the additional two hours to make the official bout weight. Let's see how much it's taken out of him. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Chernicin
vs
Gaunov

170 cm
19
150 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

165 cm
19
150 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Kirill Chernicin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Kantemir Gaunov!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Sergei Dronov and Ivan Kurochkin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Chernicin drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Gaunov looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!
Gaunov keeping moving, preventing Chernicin from controlling successfully.
Gaunov utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Chernicin wants to control from the top but Gaunov keeps moving.
Gaunov wants to stand but Chernicin is controlling the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Kirill Chernicin just wasn't active enough.
Chernicin fails in his attempt to clinch.
Gaunov misses with a takedown attempt - Chernicin sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Chernicin lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.

It looks like Kantemir Gaunov has been cut.
Chernicin is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gaunov avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Chernicin shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Gaunov is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Chernicin is controlling him.
Chernicin trying to control the position from guard on top but Gaunov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Chernicin has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Gaunov is proving hard to escape from.
Our spies down at at Cozad MMA St Petersburg inform us that Gaunov has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?
Chernicin wants to control from the top but Gaunov keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

We're going to have a standup here because Kirill Chernicin wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Chernicin chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Chernicin wants to clinch.
Chernicin looks to clinch

so Gaunov counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Gaunov must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Chernicin wants to stand and escape but Gaunov is having none of it.
Chernicin looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.

Chernicin is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Gaunov is aware though and is defending well.
Chernicin throwing strikes off his back to little effect.

Chernicin has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Gaunov can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Chernicin is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Gaunov tries to stand but Chernicin is controlling from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Chernicin throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Chernicin has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

Gaunov avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Chernicin had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Gaunov defends it easily.

Chernicin is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Gaunov defends well.
Gaunov wants to get up but he can't break Chernicin's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Chernicin escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Gaunov gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Gaunov loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Gaunov avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Gaunov stands up from guard. Let's bang!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Gaunov takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Chernicin throws a head kick that Gaunov semi-blocks.

Chernicin manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Gaunov on his heels. He'll look to pass Gaunov's guard now, I'm sure.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kirill Chernicin dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Kantemir Gaunov's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Chernicin tries to clinch up but Gaunov circles away and keeps his distance.

Gaunov tries to sprawl but Chernicin drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Chernicin passes to side control.
Chernicin wants to control but Gaunov is keeping him busy.

Chernicin is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Gaunov has escaped the position, nice work there.
Chernicin trying to control the action but Gaunov is working from the bottom.
Kirill Chernicin overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gaunov is trying to get back to his feet.
Gaunov is breathing heavily.

Chernicin is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Gaunov knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Chernicin tries to stand but Gaunov is controlling his head.
Chernicin throws an elbow but Gaunov slips to the side and avoids it well.

Chernicin tries for a kimura but Gaunov is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Chernicin wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Gaunov, who protects the arm well.

Chernicin is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Gaunov knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Chernicin misses with the ground and pound.
Gaunov is pushing Chernicin's head away, looking to escape. Chernicin manages to hold on to the position though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Chernicin misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Chernicin wants to control but Gaunov is keeping him busy.
Chernicin works to advance to full mount. Gaunov defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Chernicin is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Gaunov has managed to escape the submission attempt.

Chernicin looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Chernicin lands a couple of good shots and Gaunov has given up his back, trying to escape the position!

Chernicin has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Gaunov has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Gaunov is trying to get back to his feet but Chernicin has full control of the position and if anything, Gaunov has just worked his way into a worse spot.

Gaunov preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Chernicin.
Gaunov prevents Chernicin from getting a body triangle.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gaunov looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kirill Chernicin dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Kantemir Gaunov's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Chernicin tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Gaunov paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Chernicin looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Gaunov!
Chernicin throwing shots but missing, from side control.

Chernicin wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Gaunov, who protects the arm well.

Chernicin is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Gaunov knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Chernicin wants to stand but Gaunov is controlling his arm.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Chernicin is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Gaunov knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Chernicin has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Gaunov!
Chernicin is looking to stand but Chernicin has his arms wrapped tightly around him, looking to prevent the damage.
Chernicin landing punches.

Chernicin is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Gaunov is surviving well by controlling Chernicin's body position as best he can.
Chernicin can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Gaunov is looking to escape.
Chernicin is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Gaunov can do to turn this around?

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Chernicin swings around for an armbar and he's got it! Wow, that came out of nowhere! What a finish!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:24 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Kirill Chernicin!